Dr Naomi Luxford is a Conservation Scientist working at English Heritage, current research projects include environmental control within collections stores, the suitability of underfloor heating within historic houses, and the use of mesh blinds in historic properties. Previous research has looked at the use of UVC for cleaning mould on architectural stonework, understanding Daguerreotype environmental sensitivity as well as a wide range of objects including silver, textiles and furniture. Her primary interests are in Preventive Conservation, Conservation Science and Conservation Research focussing on the building, its environment and collections, and understanding their interactions to improve preservation. She has taught at City & Guilds of London Art School, West Dean College, UCL and the Royal College of Art.
Having completed her Chemistry degree at University of Bristol, she volunteered at the Conservation Centre, National Museums Liverpool. This led to an MA in Conservation at the Royal College of Art / Victoria & Albert Museum specialising in Conservation Science in the Care of Historic Collections with English Heritage. This was followed by a PhD at the Textile Conservation Centre, University of Southampton and an AHRC/EPSRC Science & Heritage Programme post-doctoral fellowship at University College London, both in collaboration with English Heritage. She then spent a year working in private practice with Tobit Curteis Associates focussed on environmental monitoring in historic buildings, especially churches and cathedrals. She has presented and published widely and currently serves as an Associate Editor for Studies in Conservation.
